Outbox AXS, founded in 2011 by partners AEG, Cirque du Soleil and industry veteran Jean-Francoys Brousseau, is merging with its service provider, digital ticketing and event marketing application Veritix.
The combined entity will bring together the consumer-focused interface and ticketing platform of Outbox AXS – including AXS Invite and the AXS Waiting Room – with Veritix’s season ticket management technology and Flash Seats digital, ID-based ticketing technology.
“This partnership is about more than ticketing,” said Bryan Perez, President & CEO, Outbox AXS.
“It’s about combining the best technology and services to create the only platform in the industry that engages with consumers beyond ticketing through every phase of the event lifecycle.”
With more than $2 billion of combined transactions annually, Outbox AXS says it will now have a significant market share in North American sports, providing select ticketing services to almost 25% of NBA teams and one-third of all MLS teams.
Veritix was launched in 2006 by Gerace and NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers Majority Owner and sports technology investor, Dan Gilbert.
Outbox AXS now adds Gilbert to its ownership ranks, resulting in a combined entity supported by the resources of AEG – which owns 120 venues as well as content produced by AEG Live – plus Cirque du Soleil.
“This is an exciting moment for Veritix and for all the teams, venues and organizations that believed in the value of innovating and evolving the platform that helps them run their businesses and create great experiences for fans,” stated Samuel Gerace, CEO, Veritix.
“Our role in this industry has always been about more than ticketing and now we have a partnership that accelerates our vision of empowering teams and venues with the best solutions to drive insights and fan delight.”
As a result, AXS claims to be ‘the only fully integrated platform that empowers venues and sports franchises to run their own business operations while building a direct brand relationship with their loyal fans’.
The platform provides clients with fully trackable data as tickets pass from primary to secondary markets and from one fan to the next. Through its full event lifecycle solution set, AXS will manage every aspect of the ticketing, in-event and post-event experience.
“Today’s merger was able to take place because we have two industry leading organizations with a shared vision of empowering venues, teams and fans with the best technology, tools and insights, adding the most value to the entire event experience. AXS now has the infrastructure and market share to provide the most complete experience for live entertainment venues and fans,” Perez continued.Music Business Worldwide